In-situ observation of deep water corals in the northern Red Sea waters of Saudi Arabia

Three sites offshore of the Saudi Arabia coast in the northern Red Sea were surveyed in November 2012 to search for deep-water coral (DWC) grounds using a Remotely Operated Vehicle. A total of 156 colonies were positively identified between 400 and 760 m, and were represented by seven species belonging to Scleractinia (3), Alcyonacea (3) and Antipatharia (1). The scleractinians Dasmosmilia valida Marenzeller, 1907, Eguchipsammia fistula (Alcock, 1902) and Rhizotrochus typus Milne-Edwards and Haime, 1848 were identified to species level, while the octocorals Acanthogorgia sp., Chironephthya sp., Pseudopterogorgia sp., and the antipatharian Stichopathes sp., were identified to genus level. Overall, the highest abundance of DWC was observed at Site A1, the closest to the coast. The most abundant species in the study area was D. valida, which lives attached to rocky substrates and represented 42% of the total coral population at site A1. Water column attributes at this depth were quite homogenous with temperature ca. 21.6 °C, salinity ca. 40.56, dissolved oxygen ca. 1.75 ml L⁻¹ and current velocity from 0.6 to 34.5 cm s⁻¹ with a mean value of 9.5 cm s⁻¹. Interestingly, these DWC can cope with high temperature and salinity, compared to those in other regions.     

Biodiversity and community composition of sediment macrofauna associated with deep-sea Lophelia pertusa habitats in the Gulf of Mexico

Scleractinian corals create three-dimensional reefs that provide sheltered refuges, facilitate sediment accumulation, and enhance colonization of encrusting fauna. While heterogeneous coral habitats can harbor high levels of biodiversity, their effect on the community composition within nearby sediments remains unclear, particularly in the deep sea. Sediment macrofauna from deep-sea coral habitats (Lophelia pertusa) and non-coral, background sediments were examined at three sites in the northern Gulf of Mexico (VK826, VK906, MC751, 350–500 m depth) to determine whether macrofaunal abundance, diversity, and community composition near corals differed from background soft-sediments. Macrofaunal densities ranged from 26 to 125 individuals 32 cm⁻² and were significantly greater near coral versus background sediments only at VK826. Of the 86 benthic invertebrate taxa identified, 16 were exclusive to near-coral habitats, while 14 were found only in background sediments. Diversity (Fisher’s α) and evenness were significantly higher within near-coral sediments only at MC751 while taxon richness was similar among all habitats. Community composition was significantly different both between near-coral and background sediments and among the three primary sites. Polychaetes numerically dominated all samples, accounting for up to 70% of the total individuals near coral, whereas peracarid crustaceans were proportionally more abundant in background sediments (18%) than in those near coral (10%). The reef effect differed among sites, with community patterns potentially influenced by the size of reef habitat. Taxon turnover occurred with distance from the reef, suggesting that reef extent may represent an important factor in structuring sediment communities near L. pertusa. Polychaete communities in both habitats differed from other Gulf of Mexico (GOM) soft sediments based on data from previous studies, and we hypothesize that local environmental conditions found near L. pertusa may influence the macrofaunal community structure beyond the edges of the reef. This study represents the first assessment of L. pertusa-associated sediment communities in the GOM and provides baseline data that can help define the role of transition zones, from deep reefs to soft sediments, in shaping macrofaunal community structure and maintaining biodiversity; this information can help guide future conservation and management activities.     

在闽东海域发现的石珊瑚的种类组成和分布

首次报道了闽东海域分布的3种石珊瑚,分别为造礁石珊瑚陀螺珊瑚（Turbinaria sp．）、非造礁石珊瑚猩红筒星珊瑚（Tubastrea coccinea Lesson）和1个珊瑚待定种,其中陀螺珊瑚和1个珊瑚待定种为中国新记录．珊瑚分布面积约3．24km2,主要呈零星斑块状分布在岛礁周围水深2—25m近岸岩礁区．2012年5～8月对闽东台山列岛和星仔列岛4km2范围内的55个岛礁近岸海域进行4个航次的调查表明,珊瑚的分布总体上南部的台山列岛海域分布数量多于北部的星仔列岛,海岛东部海域略多于西部．研究认为,闽东海域发现陀螺珊瑚说明其分布主要受台湾暖流的影响,揭示我国大陆沿岸造礁石珊瑚分布北缘可能扩展到台山列岛和星仔列岛．     

Environmental variabilities and the distribution of octocorals and black corals in Hong Kong

A recent comprehensive survey covering 125 sites in Hong Kong waters recorded 29 soft coral species in 14 genera, 38 species of gorgonians in 19 genera and six species of black corals in two genera. Environmental variabilities based on water quality data collected by Hong Kong Environmental Protection Department were analyzed using multivariate statistics to find variables that are significantly correlated with coral distribution patterns. Eleven water quality zones with similar environmental variabilities were recognized, which could further be classified into five groups, namely Inner Bay, Outer Bay, Eastern, Western and Southern waters. LINKTREE analysis provided an overall trend indicating the importance of salinity, sediment and nutrient loadings in affecting octocoral and black coral distribution from west to east of Hong Kong waters, and from inner to outer bays. Furthermore, water turbidity and wave exposure could also affect the coral distribution patterns from north, northeast to southern waters.     

A Benthic Terrain Classification Scheme for American Samoa

Coral reef ecosystems, the most varied on earth, continually face destruction from anthropogenic and natural threats. The U.S. Coral Reef Task Force seeks to characterize and map priority coral reef ecosystems in the U.S./Trust Territories by 2009. Building upon NOAA Biogeography shallow-water classifications based on Ikonos imagery, presented here are new methods, based on acoustic data, for classifying benthic terrain below 30 m, around Tutuila, American Samoa. The result is a new classification scheme for American Samoa that extends and improves the NOAA Biogeography scheme, which, although developed for Pacific island nations and territories, is only applicable to a maximum depth of 30 m, due to the limitations of satellite imagery. The scheme may be suitable for developing habitat maps pinpointing high biodiversity around coral reefs throughout the western Pacific.     

Effect of oxygen on coral fanning by mutualistic fish

Coral branches partially block the flow of water through the colony, creating an inner zone of reduced water exchange where hypoxic conditions can develop during the night. Previous studies have shown that this oxygen deficiency is alleviated by the fanning behavior of mutualistic damselfish that spend the night between the coral branches, constantly moving their fins. Our findings show that fin‐stroking frequency during fanning by the damselfish Dascyllus marginatus is moderately plastic, with lower frequency under higher oxygen concentration, and vice versa. The inter‐play between oxygen concentration and fin motion maintains nearly steady oxygen concentration between the coral branches during the night.     

Response of the soft coral Heteroxenia fuscescens to ultraviolet radiation regimes as reflected by mycosporine-like amino acid biosynthesis

The variation in mycosporine‐like amino acid (MAA) concentration in the soft coral Heteroxenia fuscescens in relation to changes in ultraviolet radiation (UVR) regimes was investigated at the Gulf of Eilat, northern Red Sea. Solar radiation (300–700 nm) was measured for different depths and seasons. The UVR irradiance was measured to a depth of 25 m on the reef. The mean attenuation coefficient for UV‐B measured in winter was twofold that of the summer value. Separation of H. fuscescens extracts by reverse‐phase isocratic high‐performance liquid chromatography revealed a single MAA compound, palythine (λ_max = 320 nm). Possible seasonal changes in MAAs in colonies of H. fuscescens along a depth gradient were examined on different dates. Palythine concentrations in the colonies were significantly higher in summer than in the other seasons particularly in shallow water. Possible changes in MAA content in colonies of H. fuscescens as a result of UVR protection, were determined by experiments conducted for periods of 1 week, 1 month and 3 months, at a depth of 5 m. In these experiments colonies were removed from the natural substrate and placed underwater, protected from UVR by a PVC filter. Significant differences between UV‐exposed and protected colonies of H. fuscescens were found only in the 3‐month experiment conducted during the summer. These findings demonstrate that UVR is an important environmental factor regulating MAA biosynthesis in the soft coral H. fuscescens.     

台湾北部四种软珊瑚体内十八种金属累积于共肉组织与中轴骨骼的特性

分别检测采自台湾北部和平岛沿岸海域及淡水河出海口海域的侧扁软柳珊瑚(Subergorgia suberosa)、扁刺柳珊瑚(Echinogorgia complexa)、网刺柳珊瑚(Echinogorgia reticulata)和1未定种柳珊瑚4种软珊瑚样品体内18种金属元素。比较同株珊瑚中金属累积于共内组织与中轴骨骼含量的特性．研究结果显示铜(Cu)及钒(V)于4种珊瑚中累积于中轴骨骼的量高于共内组织，Zn、Fe、Mn、Ca、Cd、Ni、Pb及Se则恰相反，Al、As、Co、Cr及Sn累积部位没有规则，Ag,Au及Ba因有ND值(未检出值)无法归纳其累积倾向，但若忽略ND值，则Ag与Ba累积于共肉组织较高，Au累积于中轴骨骼较高．此研究结果显示环境中金属倾向累积于软珊瑚共肉组织或中轴骨骼可能有一定之脉络可循．     

Microhabitat type determines the composition of nematode communities associated with sediment-clogged cold-water coral framework in the Porcupine Seabight (NE Atlantic)

The nematofauna associated with a cold-water coral degradation zone in the Porcupine Seabight (NE Atlantic) was investigated. This is the first comprehensive study of nematodes associated with cold-water corals. This research mainly aimed to investigate the influence of microhabitat type on nematode community structure. Three distinct microhabitats for nematodes were distinguished: dead coral fragments, glass sponge skeletons and the underlying sediment. The nematode assemblages associated with these three microhabitats were significantly different from each other. Coral and sponge substrata lie relatively unprotected on the seafloor and are consequently more subjected to strong currents than the underlying sediment. As a result, both large biogenic substrata were characterized by higher abundances of taxa that are less vulnerable and more adapted to physical disturbance, whereas the underlying sediment yielded more slender, sediment-dwelling taxa. Typically epifaunal taxa, such as Epsilonematidae and Draconematidae, were especially abundant on dead coral fragments, where they are thought to feed on the microbial biofilm which covers the coral surface. Several epifaunal genera showed significant preferences for this microhabitat, and Epsilonema (Epsilonematidae) was dominant here. Sponge skeletons are thought to act as efficient sediment traps, resulting in a lower abundance of epifaunal taxa compared to coral fragments. The underlying sediment was dominated by taxa typical for slope sediments. The considerable degree of overlap between the communities of each microhabitat is attributed to sediment infill between the coral branches and sponge spicules. It is assumed that the nematofauna associated with large biogenic substrata is composed of a typical sediment-dwelling background community, supplemented with taxa adapted to an epifaunal life strategy. The extent to which these taxa contribute to the community depends on the type of the substratum. Selective deposit feeders were dominant on sponge skeletons and in the underlying sediment, whereas coral fragments were dominated by epistratum feeders. The presence of a microbial biofilm on the coral fragments is proposed as an explanation for the significant preference of epistratum feeders for this microhabitat. Densities in the underlying sediment were low in comparison with other studies, but biodiversity was higher here than on the coral and sponge fragments, a difference which is attributed to lower disturbance. Nevertheless, the large biogenic substrata provide a microhabitat for rare, epifaunal taxa, and fragments of both substrata within the sediment increase habitat complexity and hence biodiversity.     

DARWIN'S Coral Reef Research - a Review and Tribute

Abstract. In rememberance of the death of CHARLES DARWIN 100 years ago, a review is given on his coral reef research from the point of view of present knowledge. Although during DARWIN'S time no one was aware of the changing level of the glacial sea or of the important function of the symbiotic zooxanthellae in the life of hermatypic corals, his observations and considerations on the ecology of corals and on the formation of coral reefs are relevant to this day. But of course his ideas need new causal interpretations. The origin of the different reef types can no longer be explained by subsidence alone, but by different modes biologists and geologists described during the following century. To summarize all the many existing theories, the all enclosing "theory of compensation" is put forward here in honour of this great man.